9 High-Paying Mystery Shopper Jobs of 2024 

Are you a shopping enthusiast who can’t help but give unsolicited product reviews to friends and family?

I’m always trying different restaurants and sharing my opinions with my friends to help them choose the next place to dine.

If you can relate, you’ve come to the right place. As a mystery shopper, you can turn your unsolicited product reviews into money, and I’ll show you how.

The best part about mystery shopping? In addition to money, you’ll earn numerous free products, like clothing, meals, and hotel reservations. 

Whether you want to start a side hustle or venture into a fun full-time job less strenuous than your 9-5, read on to discover the best mystery shopper jobs.

While mystery shopping may seem like an easy way to get paid to shop, you must be passionate about the job to excel. 

You must also have excellent communication skills and be willing to write reports on your experience. 

What Is Mystery Shopping?

Mystery shopping is a market research tactic that many brands and companies use to evaluate their product quality and customer service. 

As a mystery shopper, you may be required to pretend to be a regular customer, purchase products from a particular store, and write a comprehensive report on your experience. 

Some companies, like hotels, require you to report an issue to their customer service to assess the quality of their response. 

In a nutshell, mystery shopping involves experiencing a company’s offerings from a client’s perspective.

The company can use the information from mystery shoppers to improve their products, customer service, and overall user experience. 

But if mystery shopping is as lucrative as it sounds, why isn’t everyone doing it?

Well, given the nature and simplicity of the job, everyone can work as a mystery shopper. However, attention to detail, patience, and excellent communication skills are crucial for success in this venture. 

Types of Mystery Shopping 

Based on how it’s conducted, mystery shopping can be categorized as in-person, video, online, and hybrid. Let’s dive into each category in detail:

In-Person Mystery Shopping  

As the name suggests, in-person mystery shopping requires you to visit the business premises to determine its performance within a predetermined set of guidelines. 

In-person mystery shopping is the most common type and is usually utilized by businesses that receive considerable foot traffic.

Some businesses that usually employ in-person mystery shoppers include:

• Hotels 
• Real estate agencies 
• Restaurants 
• Banks 
• Retail stores 
• Car dealerships 
• Fitness centers 

Online Mystery Shopping 

Due to technological advancement, many businesses have introduced online shopping to cater to customers who prefer shopping from the comfort of their homes. 

Therefore, online mystery shopping is a valuable tool for evaluating business performance from an online client’s perspective on a mobile app, website, or online forum.

Your work as a virtual mystery shopper involves evaluating checkout processes, website usability, social media support, and the user-friendliness of mobile apps. 

You may also need to submit a query online to address potential issues clients can encounter online to gauge their effectiveness. 

Some of the most common industries that hire virtual mystery shoppers include:

• E-commerce companies
• Travel agencies
• Online banks  
• Real estate agencies
• Healthcare  
• Telecommunications 
• Quick-serve restaurants 

Video Mystery Shopping 

Videos are the ultimate way to revisit a moment exactly as it happened, making it among the best ways to conduct consumer research. 

As a video mystery shopper, you must visit a business and record your interactions with the staff using a hidden camera. 

The camera is hidden to ensure everything and everyone is captured in their usual, natural behavior. 

By hiring video mystery shoppers, businesses acquire visual evidence of how their clients are handled and issues resolved. The best part about visual data is that it’s easy to pinpoint areas that need improvement. 

Video mystery shopping is similar to in-person mystery shopping in that you need to visit the business premises. 

Businesses, brands, and companies enlist video mystery shoppers with strict guidelines to avoid going against ethical standards and the privacy of their staff members. 

Here are industries that commonly enlist video mystery shoppers:

• Restaurants 
• Retail stores 
• Car dealerships 
• Banks 
• Schools 
• Law firms 

Telephone Mystery Shopping 

Since not everyone can visit a physical business establishment at any minor inconvenience, businesses set up a telephone customer care service line to handle queries.

That said, there’s a need to ensure clients benefit from the service, no less than if they had visited the business to seek help. 

Therefore, businesses hire telephone mystery shoppers to assess customer service and find areas of improvement. 

Telephone mystery shopping is common with call centers but still useful for any establishment that has a telephone customer care service. 

Some most common enterprises that enlist telephone mystery shoppers include banks, restaurants, and hotels.

Hybrid Mystery Shopping 

Hybrid mystery shopping incorporates remote and in-person strategies to provide a 360° view of the overall customer experience. 

As a hybrid mystery shopper, you’ll need to start your evaluation by calling customer care or reaching out online through a website or social media. 

From there, you’ll be required to visit the business premises and provide feedback from an in-person client’s view. You can take videos and audio in compliance with privacy guidelines. 

Hybrid mystery shopping is beneficial to larger businesses that have both in-person and online communication channels set up. 

What Is The Difference Between a Mystery Shopper and a Secret Shopper?

The industry uses mystery and secret shoppers interchangeably because both perform similar tasks. 

Mystery and secret shoppers are paid to visit stores, purchase items, and give feedback on their experience, which may be used to improve overall user experience. 

However, the main difference between a mystery shopper and a secret shopper is that:

Mystery shoppers focuses on assessing customer experience, while secret shoppers are usually dedicated to uncovering discrepancies, especially with the business staff. 

Other than that, secret and mystery shoppers serve the same purpose in market research and provide valuable feedback that a business, brand, or company can use to improve.

How Much Do Mystery Shoppers Get Paid?

According to Indeed, a mystery shopper can earn between $7.25 and $58.10 an hour in the US. However, the pay varies by state. 

For instance, mystery shoppers in Chicago earn $63.29 an hour, while those in Dallas make about $36.03 an hour.

The mystery shopping rate also varies by experience and skill. While anyone can become a mystery shopper, having certification in a related field is an excellent way to boost your resume. 

It’s worth noting that some companies pay mystery shoppers by task rather than by the hour. If you’re interested in this venture, compare different companies to find one that caters to your needs. 

The Best Mystery Shopper Jobs 

Here are some of the best places to find mystery shopper jobs to supplement your income:

1. BestMark 

BestMark was founded in 1986 and is one of the nation’s best and largest mystery shopping companies. 

If you’re at least 18, have reliable internet, and have excellent communication skills, apply for a mystery shopper job at BestMark to work with big brands, businesses, and companies.

If you’re interested in mystery shopping in the hospitality industry, fill out the application form on their website.

As a mystery shopper for BestMark, you’ll need to use your money to purchase goods and services. However, the company reimburses you in addition to your hourly flat rate. 

You’ll earn PayPal, gift cards, or a check three weeks after completing your mystery shopping assignment. Expect to earn between $10 and $25 per task. 

2. Sinclair Customer Metrics 

Sinclair Customer Metrics is a market research company that deals with companies across different industries, such as:

• Banking and Finance 
• Artisan services 
• Convenience stores and gas stations 
• Online shopping platforms 
• Grocery and retail stores 
• Hospitality 

As a mystery shopper at Sinclair Customer Metrics, you can work on-site, online, or via telephone. They also offer video and competitor mystery shopping.

If interested, complete the application form on their website.

3. Ath Power Consulting 

Ath Power Consulting (APC) is another reputable firm in the mystery shopping industry. It has over 500,000 mystery shoppers and is worth checking out if you want to become one.

To become a mystery shopper with APC, create an account on their website and submit relevant information, such as your email address and name. 

You’ll receive an activation email from there, and you’re good to go. Note that you must complete your “Extended Shopper Profile” to be eligible for mystery shopping assignments.

APC pays via check in two cycles per month, that is, on the first and fifteenth of every month. You’ll receive your pay after completing your mystery shopping tasks.   

4. Market Force Information

Another excellent company that pays you to shop is Market Force Information. Here, you’ll need to make payments with your own money and then get reimbursed by the company later. 

The company offers mystery shopping services in the following industries:

• Fashion 
• Grocery stores 
• Hospitality 
• Travel 
• Technology 
• Telecom 
• Restaurants 
• Energy 
• Health and wellness 
• Theatre 
• Education 
• Fitness 
• Gaming 
• Financial services 
• Pharma 
• Government agencies 

Joining the Market Force mystery shopping community is free if you’re at least 18 and have a high school diploma. 

Once you create your account, scout for mystery shopper jobs near you to earn extra cash. The best part is that the rates are negotiable. 

5. iSecretShop  

Do you enjoy sampling different restaurants and cuisines? If yes, you’ll love working as a mystery shopper for iSecretShop.

Register as a shopper on their website to land mystery shopping gigs. iSecretShop requires you to submit personal information like your name, phone number, and address to match you to relevant assignments. 

Unlike most companies on this list, iSecretShop is a job board that doesn’t handle payments. After landing an assignment on the platform, your employer will make further payment arrangements directly. 

Due to that, payment varies from one company to the other. Therefore, it’s essential to compare different job offerings to determine the one that best suits your needs. 

6. Second To None

Still looking for mystery shopping jobs to land extra cash? Second To None is an excellent place to start. 

The company has an A+ rating on BBB and over 30 years of experience. Due to its reputation, Second to None works with leading brands across Canada and the US. 

If you want to choose your own working hours and control the assignments you accept, Second To None is the best company to work with because it allows you to register as an independent contractor. 

Start by reviewing their requirements and registering if you meet all of them. Some of the requirements highlighted on the company’s website include:

• Excellent observation skills 
• Attention to detail 
• A computer, smartphone, or tablet 
• Good time-management skills 
• Reliable transport and internet 
• Good verbal and written communication skills 
• Enjoy interacting with people

7. IntelliShop

Becoming a mystery shopper with IntelliShop is as easy as visiting their website, signing up, and submitting a few details, such as:

• Name 
• Email address 
• Contact information 
• Payment information 
• Demographic information 
• Area codes 
• Tax information 
• Privacy information 

IntelliShop has over 800,000 mystery shoppers, and you can join the company for free. It also operates across over 18,000 cities across Canada and the US and over 180 countries worldwide. 

Therefore, you can work as a mystery shopper outside the US and Canada. 

Maintaining a high shopper rating on IntelliShop is crucial as it dictates your earnings. The higher your rating, the more you’ll earn. 

Some ways to improve and maintain a high rating include providing comprehensive answers in your secret shopping reports, adhering to the assignment rules, and accepting as many jobs as possible.  

Note that IntelliShop only offers payment via PayPal. 

8. Secret Shopper

Secret Shopper offers you the flexibility to work on your schedule as an independent contractor online, on the phone, or on-site. 

It’s a reputable firm with over 30 years of experience in the mystery shopping space. The best part is that they hire mystery shoppers worldwide, offering you a chance to make extra cash outside the US. 

You can earn as low as $15 to hundreds of dollars as a mystery shopper on Secret Shopper. The pay varies based on the assignments and clients.

Secret Shopper offers payment via physical check or direct bank deposits for local mystery shoppers and PayPal money for international ones.  

9. Yardi Matrix 

Yardi Matrix researches and provides its clients with comprehensive reports on storage, student housing, multifamily, industrial, and office properties within the US. 

It’s one of the best firms to work with if you’re interested in mystery shopping jobs in the real estate industry.

The global company operates in the following regions:

• Australia 
• Asia 
• Germany 
• Europe 
• Middle East 
• The Netherlands 
• North America 
• France 
• United Kingdom 

The company pays you $6 hourly to answer surveys on rental properties and a piece rate ranging from $0.50 to $0.07 per survey, depending on the quality of your responses. 

You can maximize your income by taking up as many gigs as possible and completing your surveys comprehensively. 

Tips To Avoid Mystery Shopping Scams 

Here are some valuable tips to keep in mind to avoid mystery shopping scams:

Don’t Pay a Company for a Mystery Shopper Job

No legitimate company will ask you to pay anything to work with them. If you encounter such a company, it’s wise to run as that’s a scam.

Most reputable mystery shopper companies allow you to register for free and match you to jobs depending on the information you submit on your profile. 

Sending Money Isn’t Part of the Assignment 

While some mystery shopping jobs require you to use your money to make purchases, then they reimburse you later, don’t accept any assignment that requires you to send money to any individual or company. 

Do Your Due Diligence 

The best way to weed out scammers is through research. Compare different companies and read between the lines to determine if they’re worth your time. 

Reading reviews is an excellent way to gauge a company’s reputation from the perspectives of previous employees.

So, before signing up on a platform, scout Trustpilot or BBB for reviews. 

When the Pay Is Too Good, It’s Likely a Scam 

While mystery shopping is an excellent way to earn free cash, it’s not enough to replace your day job. 

Therefore, anyone promising you thousands of dollars monthly would be trying to scam you.

Most companies pay $15-$30 per assignment, while others may pay up to $60 depending on the nature of the job. 

However, consider evaluating different options to find one that offers a generous sum without being unrealistic. 

Tips for Making Money as a Mystery Shopper 

Want to make a break working as a mystery shopper? Here are some valuable tips to remember:

• Follow instructions: Mystery shopping assignments usually have strict rules you must adhere to. Be keen and follow instructions to complete the job as required.
• Pay attention to detail: The small details may be a big deal to the company looking for feedback. Therefore, you must take note of everything as you work on your assignment.
• Be punctual: Good time management skills are crucial to success as a mystery shopper. Some companies pay according to your rating, and the best way to maintain a high rating is by completing your assignments on time. 
• Keep your receipts: It’s crucial to keep a record since you must submit receipts to get reimbursed. 

Extra Reading – How To Get Paid To Shop

Frequently Asked Questions 

Do You Pay Taxes as a Mystery Shopper?

Yes, you’ll be considered self-employed when you become a mystery shopper. Therefore, depending on your income and state laws, you’ll be eligible for tax deductions. 

Review your state laws to determine the taxes you need to pay to avoid future legal implications. 

Can You Make a Living Off Mystery Shopping?

No, living off mystery shopping alone is unlikely since the pay isn’t as much as an actual day job. 

However, it’s an excellent way to supplement your income, and you can maximize your earnings by taking up as many jobs as possible.  

Do Mystery Shoppers Keep What They Buy?

Whether mystery shoppers keep what they buy depends on the company and specific assignment. Sometimes, you may keep the product and still be reimbursed for the purchase. 

However, if a company wants to evaluate its return process, you may need to return the items after purchasing them. 

Do Mystery Shoppers Have to Use Their Own Money?

This depends on the company and assignment. Most mystery shopping companies require you to make purchases using your money and then get a reimbursement later. 

Is It Safe to Be a Mystery Shopper?

Yes, it’s safe to be a mystery shopper. However, you must take precautions to protect yourself from malicious people and scams. 

Work with legitimate companies and avoid sharing personal information. Also, as you collect data undercover, ensure you do so within privacy guidelines, especially with video mystery shopping. 

What Are the Disadvantages of Being a Mystery Shopper?

Being a mystery shopper is a fun and flexible way to make extra cash. However, some common disadvantages include:

• Low income 
• Some purchases may not be reimbursed 
• Traveling for on-site assignments may be tedious and time-consuming 
• There are many potential scams 
• Some assignments may have strict deadlines 

Final Thoughts 

I hope this article helps you pick the best mystery shopping jobs that suit your needs. However, you must have realistic expectations as you join the industry. 

Mystery shopping isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme, and most assignments only pay enough to cover a few bills. You can’t turn it into a full-time venture. 

Maximize your income by taking up as many jobs as possible, prioritizing those with higher pay, and maintaining a high shopper rating.